Acetylene-gas generator.



No. 666,268. Patented 1331.15, 190:.

J. w. REEDER.

ACETYLENE GAS GENEBAfUR.

(Application filed June 9, 1900.

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no. 666,208; Patantad Jan. l5, 19m.

- J. w. seamen.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed Juno 9, 1900.) malarial.) 5 Sheets-Shea 2.

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Patented Jan. l5, I90l.

J. w. REEDEFL ACETYLENE GAS GENEBATOR.

(Application med June 9, 1900.)

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No. 666.208. Patented Jan. I5, I90i.

.1. w. REEDER. AGETY'LENE GAS GENERATOR. (No Mode) (Application filedJune 9, 1900.) 5 sheets-sheet 4 I f; i 4 5 I. 41 i r; I i 1 '1' .15:=25?! .1 ll i l" l M No. 666,208. Patented Ian. l5, [90L J. W. REEDER.ACETYL-ENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed June 9: 1900.1

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STATES ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 666,208, dated January15, 1901.

, Application filed June 9, 1900. serial No. 19,728. mo model-1 T atwhom it may concern.-

Be it known thatI, JAMES W. REEDER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Golden Dale, in the county of Klickitat and State ofWashington, have invented new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-GasGenerators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in acetylene-gasgenerators; and its primary object is to provide a device which is safeand economical in operation and is adapted to produce a pure gas fromcalcium carbid and to furnish the same perfectly dry to burners.

A further object is to so construct the device that the minimum amountof air will be admitted thereto when the same is recharged.

Another object is to provide means, controlled by the gas generatedwithin the device, whereby the supply of water to the carbid isregulated.

A still further object is to so construct the generator as to reduce theheat and prevent the danger incident to the generation thereof.

Other objects are to arrange the carbid in separate receptacles, wherebythe same will be acted upon successively, and to provide a novel holderfor the receptacles.

To these ends the invention consists in providing a cylindrical tank orgenerator having two compartments therein, the upper one of whichcontains the carbid, while the lower compartment is utilized as acondenser. A water'jacket surrounds the carbid, which is arranged withina well formed within the center of the upper compartment, and said watercommunicates with the interior of the water-tank of the gasotneter. Thewater within the generator is kept under pressure and circulates thereinand thereby carries off the heat which s created in the carbid-chamberduring the generation of the gas. Fitted within the well of thegenerator is a bucket of peculiar construction, within which are fitteda suitable number of receptacles 0f peculiar form, each receptacle beingdivided into three or more compartments open at the top. Thecompartments of each receptacle are water-tight and are each providedwith openings in their walls. Said openings are horizontally disposedand are arranged at a different or regular grade of height from thebottoms of the cup. It will be seen that each compartment will receivethe water as the same is gradually admitted to the well independently ofany other compartment. The gasometer is of peculiar construction and isprovided at the bottom thereof with a watercontaining compartment havinga chamber in the center thereof, provided with apertures in its wallsata point below the surface of the water. A tank is arranged at a pointabove this receptacle, and the contents of said tank are adapted to fiowinto the jacket of the generator, as before mentioned. The hell or topof the gasometer is arranged in the ordinary manner above the water-tankand is provided with means whereby the gas may escape when generated toorapidly. This bell is also provided with means of peculiar construction,whereby the How of water from the supply to the well of the generatormay be controlled automatically by the movement of said bell.

The invention also consists in the further novel construction andcombination of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred form ofmy invention, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device.Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section therethrough. Fig. 3 is a section online 030:, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on line y y, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is anenlarged sect-ion through the lower compartment or washer of thegasometer. Fig. 6 is a plan view of a carbid-receptacle. Fig. 7 is aside elevation thereof. Fig. 8 is a perspective view. Fig. 9 isalongitudinal section therethrough. Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectionthrough the lower portion of a modified form of generator. Fig. 11 is aplan view of a modified form of receptacle. Fig. 12 is a sectiontherethrough. Fig. 13 is asection through the bottom of the bucket. Fig.14 is a side elevation of a modified form of valve-operating mechanism.Fig. 15 is an elevation of the operating-wheel of said mechanism, andFig. 16 is a section through the nozzle of the supply-pipe.

Referring to said figures by numerals of reference, 1 is the fixed wallof the gasometer, which may be formed of any suitable material, and apartition 2 is provided therein, which forms a lower compartment orwasher 3. A wall 4extends from the top to the bottom of thiscompartmentand forms an interior chamber or receptacle 5, apertures 6 being formedwithin the wall and provided with wire-gauze 7, as shown in Fig. 5. Thiswasher is adapted to be filled with water to a point above the upperedge of the apertures 6 and is for the purpose hereinafter more fullyset forth.

A tank 8 is formed upon the partition 2, and its walls, together withthewall 1, form a compartment or seal 9, which is filled with water orother suitable liquid and is adapted to receive the wall of the bell 10of the gasometer. This bell extends over the tan-k 8 and is provided atits center with a downwardly-extending tube 11,which is adapted toreceive an escape-pipe 13,extending above the tank, and has a suitableoutlet. (Not shown.) Pipes 14 extend from the top of the innercompartment of the washer to a point above the tank, and a suitableoutlet-pipe, as'15, extends from the interior of the bell to a drier,

which may be of any desired construction and which is not shown.

The tube'l1,heretofore referred to, is adapted to be received by a tube16, which extends upward from the bottom of the tank and communicateswith the tank through a pipe 17, as shown.

The washer 3 may be filled with water in any suitable manner, as througha pipe 18,

connecting the same with a receptacle 19, formed upon the side of thewall 1.

Secured to the outer wall 1 of the gasometer, at opposite sides thereof,are rods 20, which serve as guides for the bell 10, said rods beingconnected at the top in any suitable manner, as by means of across-strip 21. Extending downwardly from this bell is an arm 22, whichis slidably mounted at its lower end upon the guide-rod 20 adjacentthereto. A pin or projection 23 extends outwardly from the arm at anangle thereto, as shown. A pipe 25 extends from the bottom of the tank 8upward to a point without the gasometer and preferably on a line withthe top of said tank. This pipe is provided at its upper end with asuitable gage, as 26, whereby the height of the water within the tankmay be indicated. A suitable valve is located within this pipe and isprovided with a stem, to which is secured a lever 27. This lever isprovided at its lower end with a weight 24, and its upper end ispreferably curved, so as to lie normally within the path of the pin 23.It will be seen that when the bell of the gasometer is in loweredposition the pin 23 will hold the Weight 24 and lever 27 inverted,permitting water to flow into the generator through the valve. The gasgenerated the result of the admission of water will obviously raise thebell and the lever 27 will be gradually released, the weight finallyreturning it to normal position and closing the'valve. While thisregulating device is simple and effective in operation, I do not limitmyself thereto, as,

if desired, the operating mechanism shown in Fig. may be substitutedtherefor. In said figure the bell is shown provided with adownwardly-extending arm 28, which is slidably mounted upon theguide-rod and provided at regular intervals with inwardly-extendingprojections or teeth 29. These teeth are adapted to engage similar teethor projections 30, formed upon the periphery of a wheel 31, which issecured t a stem 32, projecting from the valve within .e pipe 25. Aweight 33 is formed with or secured to this wheel, so as to hold thesame normally in the position shown in Fig. 15. It will be seen that asufficient number of teeth are provided upon the arm 28 toimpart aone-half revolution to the wheel upon each up-and-down movement of thebell of the gasometer. It will be understood that the weight 33 willimmediately return the valve to its closed position when the wheel isdisengaged from the teeth of the arm 28.

The pipe extends downward from the valve therein and through the wall 34of the generator. This generator may be of any desired form and materialand is partitioned into an upper and a lower compartment, said uppercompartment having a tubular wall 35 in the center thereof, forming awell. A crossstrip 36, of strong material, as iron or steel, isdetachably secu red to the top of the gen erator and hasa threadedpassage in the center thereof for the reception of a screw 37,

which is adapted to clamp upon a cover 38,

which fits over'the top of the Well, thereby sealing the same and makingit air-tight.

It is of course understood that the generator is both air and watertight. The lower compartment or condenser 39 thereof is adapted to bepartly filled with water and is connected by means of a pipe 40 with theupper portion of the washer 3, as shown. The upper compartment of thegenerator is filled with water, which completely incloses the well 35,said water being admitted to the generator from the tank 8 of thegasometer through a pipe 41.

A pipe or conveyor 42 extends upward from the upper end of the well 35and is secured to a T-shaped joint 43, which in turn is con nected to asimilar joint formed at the upper end of a pipe 44, the lower end ofwhich is arranged at a point below the level of the water within thecondenser 39. These joints 43 are each provided at their upper ends withremovable caps 45, whereby access to the pipes 42 and 44 may be readilyobtained for the purpose of cleaning the same, 850.

The pipe 25, heretofore referred to, extends through the outer wall ofthe generator 34 and opens into the well 35 at a point within the bottomthereof. A gage 46 is arranged without said generator and is connectedwith the well by means of pipes 47, as shown.

Loosely fitted within the well 35 is a bucket 48, which is provided witha detachable bottom 49, as shown in Fig. 13. Suitable perforations arealso formed within this bucket, whereby water may be admitted thereto,and a bail or handle 50 extends from the upper edge thereof. This bucketis adapted to receive one or more carbid-receptacles 51 of peculiarconstruction. As shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9, each of thesereceptacles is divided into three separate compartments, which are openat the top, and each compartment contains one or more perforations 52within its outer wall. The perforations of each compartment are arrangedat a greater or less distance from the bottom of the receptacle than theperforations of the adjoining compartment.

Secured to the bottom of each receptacle 51 are three or moreprojections 53, which are adapted to rest upon and overlap the top ofthe adjacent receptacle when said receptacles are placed one upon theother within the bucket, as shown in Figs. 2 and 10. It is ob vious thatwhen the receptacles are arranged in this manner any gas generatedtherein by the admission of waterthrough the openings within the outerWalls thereof will escape through the apertures formed between thereceptacles by the projections 53. While I have shown and describedthese receptacles as provided with inlets within their outer walls, I donot limit myself to such construction, for, if desired, each receptaclemay be provided with a tubular passage 54 within the center thereof, asshown in Figs. 11 and 12, said passages communicating with the interiorof each compartment through inlets 55, as shown in Fig. 10. Whenreceptacles of this character are employed, the inlet-pipe 25 ispreferably extended through the bottom of the well 35 and into the tubeof the lower receptacle 51, Fig. 10, the end of said pipe being providedwith a nozzle of peculiar construction. This nozzle comprises an outerperforated cylindrical casing 56, which is provided with a detachablecap 5'7, whereby cotton or other similar material 58 may be placedtherein and securely retained in position.

The well 35 is provided with an outlet 59, whereby the water, 850., maybe readily removed therefrom as desired. This outlet may be providedwith a valve of any suitable construction, as is obvious. A suitableinlet 60 is secured within the wall of the condenser, whereby water maylie-admitted thereto and removed therefrom. The washer is also suppliedwith an outlet, as61, and it is of course understood that each of theseoutlets may contain a valve of suitable construct-ion.

Wat-er is admitted to the tank Sin any preferred manner, as through asupply-pipe 62, and it is obvious that it will completely till said tankand the tube 16 therein.' Water will be conveyed through this tank tothe generator 34, filling the same and completely inclosing the well 35therein. The cover 38 of the well is removed by slipping the crossstrip36 from position after first loosening the screw 37. The bucket 48 isthen lifted from the well and the bottom 49 thereof removed. Thereceptacles 51 are filled with carbid and arranged upon the detachedbottom of the bucket, one upon the other, until a suitable number havebeen placed in position. Said bucket is then placed over the receptaclesand placed in engagement with the bottom thereof and the entire bucketand the contents thereofare lowered into the well 35. The cover 38 isclamped in position, and after a sufficient amount of water has beenplaced within the condenser and the washer the deviceis in condition foruse. The valve within the pipe 25 is normally closed, and will thereforepermit water to flow from the tank 8 into the bottom of the well 35.This Water will gradually rise within the well, as is obvious, firstentering the lower port of the lower receptacle 51, causing thegeneration of gas within that compartment with which said portscommunicate. Gas will escape from the top of the receptacle through thepipes 42 and 44 to the condenser 39, said gas rising from theoutlet-pipe to the surface of the water. The gas will then pass throughpipe 40 into the upper portion of the washer 3, and the pressure thereofwill force the water therein downward until the gas is free to escapeinto the central compartment 5 throughthe aperture 6 within the Wallsthereof. As these apertures are provided with gauze or other similarmaterial, the passage of impurities, 850., will be prevented. This gauzealso serves to break the gas into small bubbles to facilitate thewashing thereof. The gas will rise above the surface of the water withinthe receptacle 5 and thence through the pipes 14 to the interior of thebell 10. It will be seen that as the water continues to rise within thewell 35 additional compartments within the receptacle 51 will be filledand the gas generated will immediately pass, as before described, to thebell 10. This will obviously cause the bell to slide upward upon itsguide-rods 20, the valve will close as soon as the lever 23 is releasedby the arm 27, and thereby shut off the flow of water through the pipe25 to the well 35. Should gas generate too rapidly, the bell will belifted to such a height that perforations 63, formed within the tube 11,near the bottom thereof, will be brought to a point above the top of thetank 8, and thereby permit the escape of the gas through saidperforations and out through the pipe 13, as is obvious. After the waterhas been shut off from the well 35, as before described, the generationof the gas will obviously cease, and the bell will then slide downwardupon its guides, bringing the lever 23 again into contact with the arm27 of the valve and opening the same. The operation, as heretoforedescribed, will then be repeated.

It will be seen that a pipe 64 extends from the upper portion of thegenerator 35 to the upper portion of the tank 8, and that pipe 41,heretofore referred to, connects the bottoms of said generator and tank.By this arrangement the heat generated by the chemical action carried onwithin the carbid-receptacles causes the circulation of water throughthe pipes 41 and 64, and it is obvious that the well will thus be keptcool at all times and danger of explosion, &c., which has occurred indevices heretofore constructed, is obviated.

When the generator is of the construction shown in Fig. 10, the Water,in lieu of being admitted through the side of the well, passes, asbefore stated, into the lower portion of the tube 54 of the lowerreceptacle 51, said water being admitted through the nozzle 58. Thisnozzle'is, as before stated, filled with cotton or similar material,whereby impurities within the water are prevented from passing into thegenerator.

The operation of the valve controlling mechanism shown in Fig. 15 willbe readily understood. When the bell 10 moves upward upon its guide-rod20, the toothed arm 28 is carried therewith, causing the wheel 31 torevolve, thereby shutting off the supply of water through the pipe 25,the weight 33 serving to retain the valve in this position. When themovement of the bell is reversed, said valve will be revolved in theopposite direction, opening the valve, as is obvious.

I do notlimit myself to any particular means for fastening the bottom4E9 to the bucket 48, but I have shown spring-plates secured to saidbucket within the bottom thereof,

which will be adapted to engage with pins or any other similar device 66projecting from the edge of the bottom.

By conveying the Water to the carbid from the tank within the gasometer2 important results are obtained. This arrangement permits the samegas-pressure upon the waterpipe at both the source and the discharge,and it is obvious that the water therein being under equal pressure atboth ends will flow into the well by force of gravity only.

Also it is well known that water within the gasometer absorbs a largequantity of gas, and therefore by conducting waterfrom the tank to thewell and replacing the same with fresh water the water within the tankis maintained in a pure state, obviating the odor usually arisingtherefrom. It also will be seen that the gas-containing water afterbeing discharged into the well 35 is decomposed and the gas separatedtherefrom, and waste thereof is therefore prevented,

Any suitable form of drier may be used in connection with thedistributing-pipe 15. It will be seen that when the generator is filledwithvcarbid but the minimum amount of air is admitted thereto, as thewell is nearly completely filled by the bucket and its contents.

As shown in Fig. l, a pipe 25 connects the sections of pipe 25, and thisis provided with a suitable valve wherebv water can be conducted fromthe gasometer to the generator valve in said pipe. This pipe isespecially adapted for use where the wheel 31 is employed, and by itsuse the apparatus may be readily started, as is obvious. When theweighted lever 27 is used, this pipe is not necessary, for said levermay be readily lifted manually when it is desired to start theapparatus.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described,the combination with agasonieter having a lower compartment and a tank, of a generatorcomprising an upper and a lower compartment, a

well within the upper compartment, a waterjacket inclosing the well, apipe connecting said well with the tank of the gasometer, pipesconnecting the upper and lower portions of the jacket with thecorresponding portions of the tank whereby acirculation of water ispermitted, such circulation being established by the heat generatedwithin the well; an outlet from the Well, a pipe connecting the wellwith the lower compartment of the generator, and a connecting-pipebetween the lowercompartments of the generator and gasometer.

2. Inadevice of the character described,the combination with a gasometerhaving a tank therein, of a generator, a well therein communicating withthe tank of the gasometer, a water-jacket inclosing the well, acover tothe well, means for clamping said cover in position, a bucket within thewell,,a bail thereto, a detachable bottom to said bucket having anaperture therein, catches for holding said bottom in position, acarbid-receptacle mounted within the bucket, compartments within saidreceptacle, perforations within a Wall of each compartment, a secondsimilar receptacle mounted thereon,and projections on the lower edge ofsaid receptacle adapted to bear upon the lower carbid-receptacle andform an aperture therebetween.

3. In a device of the character described,the combination with agasometer having a tank therein, of a generator, a well within thegenerator communicating with the tank of the gasometer, a water-jacketinclosing the Well, pipes connecting said jacket and the tank whereby acirculation of water therebetween is permitted, such circulation beingestablished by the heat generated within the well; pipes extending fromthe well through the water-jacket, and a transparent tube connectingsaid pipes and serving as a gage.

4. In a device of the character described,the combination with agasometer having a tank therein; of a generator; a well within thegenerator; a perforated bucket within the well; carbid-receptacleswithin the bucket and having tubular passages in the center thereofcommunicating, through perforations, with the compartments within thereceptacles; a Dine extending from the tank of the asometer to thepassage within the lower carbid-receptacle a perforated casing upon theend of said pipe within the passage; an absorbent within the casing; anda removable cap.

5. In a device of the character described,the combination with agasometer having a tank therein and a bell; of a generator, a wellwithin the generator, a pipe connecting the tank and well, a valvewithin said pipe, a stem thereto, a wheel upon the stem, teeth extendingfrom the wheel, a weight upon said wheel adapted to hold the valvenormally in closed position, an arm to the bell, teeth thereon adaptedto engage the teeth of the wheel, a jacket inclosing the well, and pipesconnecting the upper and lower portions of the generator and the tankwhereby a circulation of water is permitted between the tank and jacket,such circulation being established by the heat generatedwithin the well.

6. In a device of the character described,the combination with agasometer having a tank therein, of a generator, a well therein communicating with the tank of the gasometer, a water-jacket inclosing thewell, a cover to the well, means for clamping said cover in position, abucket within the well, a bail thereto, a detachable bottom to saidbucket having an aperture therein, catches for holding said bottom inposition, and a carbid-receptacle mounted within the bucket.

Intestimony whereof I afi'ix my signature 30 in presence of twowitnesses.

JAMES W. REEDER.

Witnesses:

WINTHROP B. PRESLEY, J. H. HILL.

